Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Ode to Non - Violent Revolution Opus V

"Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this ever walked upon this earth in flesh and blood."
Albert Einstein



Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) called Mahatma Gandhi, was the charismatic leader who brought the cause of India's independence from British colonial rule to world attention. His philosophy of nonviolence, for which he coined the term satyagraha, has influenced both national and international nonviolent resistance movements to this day. He is hailed by India as the 'Father of the Nation'.

By means of nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi helped bring about India's independence from British rule, inspiring other colonial peoples to work for their own independence, ultimately dismantling the British Empire. Gandhi's principle of satyagraha (from Sanskrit satya: truth, and agraha: endeavor), often translated as "way of truth" or "pursuit of truth", has inspired other nonviolent activists, such as Martin Luther King, John Lennon, Steve Biko and the 14th Dalai Lama.

Gandhi often said that his values were simple; drawn from traditional Hindu beliefs: truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa). His autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth reveals his inner persona and reflections on his early life.

6 comments:

Madcap said...

That's the perfect quotation to accompany the movement. Ghandi was really larger than life, considering what little feller he was! When I look at the fear and trepidation encroaching on all the edges of my own life, it's good to breathe in the spirit of Ghandi and his ilk and push back the wilderness a bit.

Madcap said...

Did you mean to spell "he" with a capital "H"?

Out of the fullness of the heart, the fingers type... ;) !!!

voixd'ange said...

No. I type so much about God I slip at times when I don't mean to. I love Gandhi, but he is no where near God stature in my heart.

voixd'ange said...

Sorry, it was bugging the hell out of me like a dripping faucet so I had to delete it, MCM. Thanks for pointing it out.
My comment was supposed to read, as my sons are Indo-American, he (small h) is one of my favorites.

Madcap said...

Just having you on! I've done the same thing myself.

existentialist said...

Thank you for this beautiful, consoling post. This is very much tied in to my spiritual practice. I dare say I revere the Dalai Lama. I certainly have gotten back into my meditation practice. I found a meditation cushion in the laundry room today and am seeking out or desiring to go events at the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in my county. But Zen is different. Isn't Zen Japanese?